Bi-functional in-line phonation valve

ABSTRACT

An in-line phonation valve system including a valve body having first and second ends through which gas passes into and out of the valve body. The first end is connectable to a breathing tube connected to a patient&#39;s airway, for passage of gas between the breathing tube and the valve body. The second end of the valve body is connectable to a gas line. A diaphragm-valve assembly is provided which includes a one-way valve having a phonation position permitting gas to pass through said valve body toward said patient when said patient inhales. The one-way valve in the phonation position substantially prevents gas from passing through the valve body when the patient exhales. The diaphragm-valve assembly is movable out of the phonation position, so as to permit substantially free flow of gas through the valve body both toward and away from the patient when the patient respectively inhales and exhales. The diaphragm-valve assembly is movable from the phonation position without disconnecting the first end from the breathing tube and the second end from the gas line. Preferably, the diaphragm-valve assembly is a removable cartridge which is replaceable with a free-flowing ring cartridge insert.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an in-line phonation valve for abreathing tube such as a tracheostomy tube.

2. Description of the Background Art

Phonation valves permit speaking by a patient having a breathing tubeinserted into the patient's airway, such as a tracheostomy tube insertedinto a patient's trachea.

Various valves for tracheostomy tubes are known in the art, includingthose disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,137,299, 4,040,428, 4,325,366,4,759,356, 4,971,054 and 5,259,378. Also of interest are U.S. Pat. Nos.3,924,637, 3,990,439, 4,538,607 and 4,627,433.

In-line phonation valves have one end connected to a breathing tubeinserted into a patient's body. A second end of an in-line phonationvalve is connected to a gas line of a ventilator circuit.

Prior in-line phonation valves are unidirectional (one-way) valves thatallow inspiration only. This results in expiration through the patient'svoice box allowing the patient to speak.

Typically, phonation valves are used only temporarily for speaking, andthe ventilator circuits must be disconnected for removing the phonationvalves. Additionally, in-line phonation valves must frequently becleaned.

There remains a need in the art for improved in-line phonation valves.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, an in-line phonation valvesystem comprises a valve body having first and second ends through whichgas passes into and out of the valve body. The first end is connectableto a breathing tube connected to a patient's airway, for passage of gasbetween the breathing tube and the valve body. The second end of thevalve body is connectable to a gas line. A diaphragm-valve assembly isprovided which comprises a one-way valve having a phonation positionpermitting gas to pass through said valve body toward said patient whensaid patient inhales. The one-way valve in the phonation positionsubstantially prevents gas from passing through the valve body when thepatient exhales. The diaphragm-valve assembly is movable out of thephonation position, so as to permit substantially free flow of gasthrough the valve body both toward and away from the patient when thepatient respectively inhales and exhales. The diaphragm-valve assemblyis movable from the phonation position without disconnecting the firstend from the breathing tube and the second end from the gas line.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a phonation valve in accordance withone embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 1B is a partly schematic cross-sectional view of the valve of FIG.1 in a phonation position.

FIG. 1C is a partly schematic cross-section of the valve of FIG. 1A inan intermediate position.

FIG. 1D is a partly schematic cross-sectional detail of FIG. 1C.

FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration, partially in cross-section, showinguse of a phonation valve in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 3A is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 3B is a partly schematic cross-section of the valve of FIG. 3A, ina phonation position.

FIG. 3C is a partly schematic cross-section of the valve of FIG. 3A in afree-flow configuration.

FIG. 4A is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 4B is a partly schematic cross-section of the valve of FIG. 4A, ina phonation position.

FIG. 4C is a partly schematic cross-section of the valve of FIG. 4A in afree-flow configuration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIGS. 1A-1D show an in-line phonation valve 10 in accordance with oneembodiment of the present invention. Phonation valve 10 includes a valvebody 12 having first and second ends 14 and 16 respectively throughwhich gas, such as air, oxygen or anesthesia gas, passes into and out ofvalve 10.

The first end 14 of valve 10 is connectable to a breathing tube such astracheostomy tube 18 shown in FIG. 2. Phonation valve 10 is an in-linephonation valve wherein the second end 16 is connectable to a source ofgas such as oxygen (not shown) by line 20 of, for example, a ventilatorcircuit.

Referring back to FIGS. 1A-1D, a valve seat 22 is located within thevalve body 12 between the first and second ends 14 and 16 respectively.A thin, flexible diaphragm 24 is mounted circumferentially around a stem26, and can be held on to stem 26 by any suitable means such as amechanical fit. A diaphragm 24 can be formed of any suitable thin,flexible material, such as silicone rubber, and can have any suitablethickness, such as about 0.0050-0.02 inch.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1A-1D, a diaphragm-valve assembly 28 isshown. Diaphragm-valve assembly 28 is comprised of a one-way valve 30having a phonation position as shown in FIG. 1B which permits gas topass through valve body 12 toward a patient in the direction shown byarrow 32 when the patient inhales. One-way valve 30, when in thephonation position shown in FIG. 1B, substantially prevents gas frompassing through valve body 12 when the patient exhales.

The diaphragm-valve assembly 28 is movable from the phonation positionshown in FIG. 1B to the position shown in phantom lines in FIG. 1A, soas to permit substantially free flow of gas through valve body 10 bothtoward and away from the patient when the patient respectively inhalesand exhales, in the directions of double-headed arrow 34.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1A-1D, the diaphragrn-valve assembly 28includes a pivot 36 connecting the valve assembly 28 to valve body 12,for rotating the valve assembly 28 within valve body 12 from thephonation position shown in FIG. 1B, through the intermediate positionshown in FIG. 1C to the free-flow position shown in FIG. 1A, wherein thevalve assembly 28 is positioned longitudinally within the valve body 12so as to permit substantially free flow of gas.

As can be seen, the diaphragm-valve assembly is movable from thephonation position, without the need to disconnect the first and secondends 14 and 16 of the valve body from any tubes or lines.

As shown in FIG. 1D, valve assembly 28 has a peripheral edge 38 thatseats within an inner wall detent 40 of the valve body 12 when the valveassembly is in the phonation position shown in FIG. 1B.

A second embodiment is shown in FIGS. 3A-3C. According to thisembodiment, a valve assembly 28 a shown in FIG. 3B is completelyremovable from the valve body 12, and replaceable with an open, valvebody ring cartridge insert 42 shown in FIG. 3C, so as to permitsubstantially free flow of gas through valve body 12. Both valveassembly 28 a and ring insert 42 include finger tabs 44, shown in FIG.3A, for removal and insertion into valve body 12.

FIGS. 4A-4C show a third embodiment in accordance with the presentinvention. According to this embodiment, the diaphragm-valve assembly 28b, shown clearly in FIG. 4B, is positioned within a laterally slidablemember 46 within the valve body 12, as shown in FIG. 4A. The slidablemember 46 includes a two-way gas passageway 48 therein.

The slidable member 46 is slidable from the phonation position shown inFIG. 4B, wherein the diaphragm-valve assembly 28 b is positioned withinthe valve body 12, to a position wherein the two-way gas passageway 48is positioned within valve body 12 as shown in FIG. 4C so as to permitsubstantially free flow of gas through valve body 12.

The slidable member 46 is provided with finger tabs 44 a for sliding thevalve between the position shown in FIG. 4B and FIG. 4C.

The present invention permits switching of an in-line phonation valvefrom a unidirectional phonation position allowing a patient to speak, toa bi-directional ventilation position, without disconnecting thephonation valve from ventilator circuitry.

What is claimed is:
 1. An in-line phonation valve system, comprising: avalve body having first and second ends through which gas passes intoand out of the valve body, the first end connectable to a breathing tubeconnected to a patient's airway for passage of gas between saidbreathing tube and said valve body, the second end connectable to a gasline, a diaphragm-valve assembly comprising a one-way valve having aphonation position permitting gas to pass through said valve body towardsaid patient when said patient inhales, said one-way valve in saidphonation position substantially preventing gas from passing throughsaid valve body when said patient exhales, said diaphragm-valve assemblybeing moveable from said phonation position so as to permitsubstantially free flow of gas through said valve body both toward andaway from said patient when said patient respectively inhales andexhales, wherein said diaphragm-valve assembly is moveable out of saidphonation position without disconnecting said first end from saidbreathing tube or said second end from said gas line, so as to permitsaid substantially free flow of gas, wherein said diaphragm-valveassembly includes a pivot connecting said valve assembly to said valvebody, for rotating said valve assembly within said valve body from saidphonation position, to a free-flow position wherein said valve assemblyis positioned longitudinally within said valve body, so as to permitsaid substantially free flow of gas.
 2. The phonation valve system ofclaim 1 wherein said valve assembly has a peripheral edge which seatswithin an inner wall detent of said valve body when said valve assemblyis in said phonation position.
 3. An in-line phonation valve system,comprising: a valve body having first and second ends through which gaspasses into and out of the valve body, the first end connectable to abreathing tube connected to a patient's airway for passage of gasbetween said breathing tube and said valve body, the second endconnectable to a gas line, a diaphragm-valve assembly comprising aone-way valve having a phonation position permitting gas to pass throughsaid valve body toward said patient when said patient inhales, saidone-way valve in said phonation position substantially preventing gasfrom passing through said valve body when said patient exhales, saiddiaphragm-valve assembly being moveable from said phonation position soas to permit substantially free flow of gas through said valve body bothtoward and away from said patient when said patient respectively inhalesand exhales, wherein said diaphragm-valve assembly is moveable out ofsaid phonation position without disconnecting said first end from saidbreathing tube or said second end from said gas line, so as to permitsaid substantially free flow of gas, wherein said diaphragm-valveassembly is positioned within a laterally slidable member within saidvalve body, wherein said slidable member includes a two-way gaspassageway therein, and wherein said slidable member is slidable fromsaid phonation position in which said diaphragm-valve assembly ispositioned within said valve body, to a position wherein said two-waygas passageway is positioned within said valve body to permit saidsubstantially free flow of gas.